News of: Wednesday, 22nd of September, 2010

Front Page

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the developed world to demonstrate sincerity in their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), pointing out that Bangladesh would require $4.4 billion a year to reach its targets by 2015 deadline.

The UK Border Agency arrested ten Bangladeshi expatriates under a special law enforcement operation aimed at reducing illegal immigration, said a press release of the British High Commission in Dhaka yesterday.

The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday rejected all petition the top four Jamaat leaders filed for their release, withdrawal of arrest warrants against them and staying trial proceeding for war crimes.

Forest department officials yesterday visited the social forestry scheme on the chars of the Padma and talked with only alleged tree plunderers to decide that the trees were either stolen or denuded in erosion.

A human rights organization and lawyers for a Saudi man accused in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole demanded yesterday that Polish prosecutors investigate the terror suspect's detention and treatment at a CIA prison once housed in Poland.

Editorial

We are happy that our efforts in reducing child mortality in Bangladesh have been duly acknowledged by the United Nations. The world body has just presented Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and through her the people of Bangladesh, an award to this effect in New York. This recognition of Bangladesh's sincere efforts in trying to reach the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015, while clearly encouraging for us, is also a reminder for us of what we must yet do in order to tackle the remaining seven of the eight MDGs. Given that as a nation we are resource-strapped and given too that a certain sluggishness has characterised the developed world where a flow of funds from it to the developing world is concerned, the road ahead will be a difficult, if not an insurmountable one. As the prime minister has pointed out in New York, Bangladesh will need $22.1 billion if it has to attain all the MDGs.

This is a glaring example of triple folly making news yesterday of how vulnerable even routine governance has become to demonstrative arrogance of some ruling party elements. This is scripted by people whose position and identity should have made them sensitive and cautious about remarks they reeled off and the behaviour they showed in public.

Bangladesh Badminton Federation were forced to shift its Summer Open tournament to the Mirpur Indoor Stadium from the newly-build Wooden Floor Gymnasium, which is in dark for two-and-a-half months following the disconnection of electricity.

Smarting from their humiliating 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Jordan, the under-19 girls of Bangladesh are hoping to put up a better show against favourites Iran when they meet in the second match of the AFC Under-19 Women's qualifiers under the floodlights of Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur today.

Sports minister Ahad Ali Sarker yesterday sat with the high-ups of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) and the representatives of 17 national federations to solve the constitutional dispute over the BOA councillorship, but the meeting ended without any solution.

England captain Andrew Strauss insisted his side were still seething at Pakistan cricket chief Ijaz Butt's claims they'd deliberately lost last week's third ODI after the tourists levelled the series at 2-2 with a convincing 38-run success at Lord's here on Monday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been fined 8,000 pounds and given a one-match ban following his spat with a match official at the end of his team's draw with Sunderland, the Football Association said Tuesday.

Call centres and hardware manufacturers will now be able to receive loans from the Equity Entrepreneurship Fund (EEF), as the government is looking to channel more credit into the burgeoning hi-tech sector.

LankaBangla Securities is in the process of signing an agreement with Bloomberg to use a terminal of the news agency's site to help global investors or fund managers get an access to information on Bangladesh stockmarket.

For the past four years, French business- and first-class air travelers have been paying more than 50 dollars each toward the cost of the fight against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis each time they get on a jet.

Metropolitan

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called for South-South and North Cooperation for increasing food production for self-consumption, exports and global food security, a major concern of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Bangladesh and India kick off a border conference at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters today focusing on different issues including preventing trans-border smuggling and improving law and order in the border areas.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police has illegally set up a large number of police boxes on footpaths and road dividers in the city, causing troubles to pedestrians, said LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday.

A Dhaka court yesterday directed different jail authorities to produce Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and eight others, now in custody, before it on September 27 in the 76 kg bomb recovery case.

Considering improvement of the standard of education as the main challenge, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the government wants to spread modern and standard education and technology to the young generation for building a country free from poverty, hunger and illiteracy.

A number of non-government organisations yesterday demanded of the government to take immediate action to ensure food security for the ultra poor, and thus achieve Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Terres des homes (TDH) Foundation Italy, an international NGO, yesterday launched a project titled “Trafficked- A project to raise awareness about child trafficking in Bangladesh” to make people aware about child trafficking.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Acting Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam yesterday alleged that the government is trying to record "false confessional statements" of the party leaders by torturing them physically and mentally during the remand.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday appeared critical of world leaders for being unable to take bold actions on issues of climate change and demanded immediate establishment of 'International Climate Change Fund' and make it operational.

Criminal Investigation Department accused four police personnel in a probe report yesterday, for falsely implicating and torturing a Dhaka University student in connection with attempt to kill Prof Humayun Azad.

National

LATEST: Bhasani university authorities in an urgent meeting yesterday suspended all activities including classes and examinations of Food Technology and Nutritional Science (FTNS) department for indefinite period. They also directed the 207 students of the department to leave the campus and dormitories by 6:00 pm yesterday.

A general diary (GD) was filed against an alleged stalker with Satkhira Sadar Police Station yesterday while law enforcers arrested six stalkers in front of a girls' high school in Lalmonirhat town the day before.

Indigenous people of Jhakrabil area under Moghban Union of Rangamati Sadar upazila formed a human chain in the district town yesterday demanding withdrawal of the government decision to set up a university at Bilaichhar Para in the union.

Two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders backed by two ward councillors of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) have allegedly grabbed a bank official's ten acres of land at Krishnanagar Mouja under Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district.

Bagerhat police in a raid yesterday rescued a two and a half years old girl child from Hatirabad village under Batiaghata upazila in Khulna district within 17 hours of her abduction from Dhaka for Tk 15 lakh ransom.

Letters

This year the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) will celebrate the World Tourism Day on 27th September under the theme 'Tourism and Biodiversity' and China is the host country. The United Nations also declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of the value of biodiversity in our lives. The UN has called on all its member countries to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth. As the UN's specialised agency for tourism, UNWTO has long been working to maximize tourism's contribution to biodiversity conservation. UNWTO is also committed to the UN approach to provide a coherent response to the current challenges, including environmental sustainability, as one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

The anthrax situation is worsening day by day. In the last few days, the disease has spread in Narayanganj, Dhamrai and the outskirts of the city. The number of the infected has since crossed four digit, as new cases have been reported from Chittagong, Meherpur and Chaudanga districts in a single day.

In case of telling lies, Tony Blair, the ex- British prime minister, is undoubtedly the champion; none is equal to him. He started telling lies on multifarious subjects right after getting the power of PM, albeit he is an ex now, still he is continuing it. Thus some people call him 'Mr . Lair' cutting 'B' from 'Blair'.

The front-page report published on 3rd September in a local English daily, quoting AL's acting general secretary, revives the saga of the epic South Arabian journey of Khaleda Zia, four years back in 2006. It has remained an intriguing mystery since then, which may be only time will reveal!

A priest of Florida, USA, announced his plan to burn copies of the Holy Qur'an in protest of the 9/11 massacre, after long nine years of the unfortunate incident. It may ignite a new wave of hatred among the believers. If some of the Muslims are responsible for attacking the World Trade Centre, all the Muslims cannot be made liable for that. When Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq or attacks on Afghanistan, no Muslim ever burnt any copy of the Holy Bible.

This refers to the government's move of engaging experts from multilateral institutions in the consultative groups of government and NGO development efforts. It is unfortunate that even after 40 years of independence we look to foreigners for guidance. I echo the question, “Are we intellectually bankrupt?”

Travelling in Dhaka city has virtually become a nightmare. All the roads are clogged. The cars are stuck bumper to bumper, the engines release a tremendous amount of heat, drivers honk their horns incessantly, some of the old vehicles let go black smoke, vehicles break lanes and try and enter the ones that are moving faster. At rush hour, a distance of three to four kilometres can take about an hour to reach. Destinations like Gulistan, Motijheel, Old Dhaka, Maghbazar, Malibagh, Gulshan, Banani and Dhanmondi are nightmares for commuters from any point in the city. Especially frustrating are the points likeHotel Sonargaon crossing, the road in front of the Prime Minister's office, Maghbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Khilghaon, Rampura, Elephant Road, Science Laboratory, Green Road, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Mohakhali and old parts of the city mainly at Dholaikhal, Postagola, Bangshal, Chowkbazar and Imamganj.

We, the people of our country, are in a dream to live in a digital Bangladesh in future. But the present condition of our country really disappoints us. What do we mean by digital Bangladesh? We mean a country which is free from traffic jams, theft, robbery, hijacking, load shedding, free from pollution and so on. The government has taken necessary steps to solve these problems. But alas! Still crimes are being committed on a regular basis. And there is also unbearable traffic jam in the city roads and load shedding occurs frequently, even on holidays.

Pastor Terry Jones, of the Dove World Outreach centre (a non denominational church in Florida), announced his plan to mourn the death of September 11 victims through the burning of the Holy Koran. He claimed that he intends to send a message to the perpetrators of the September 11 incident by doing this and also express his grievances against Islam and Shariah law. His act however holds all Muslims (for whom The Koran is sacred) around the world liable for the heinous act of September 11. However, his rejection of Islam as a religion has already been made clear while he wrote his controversial book “Islam is of the devil” and made it available on the internet for sale at some of his websites. Other merchandise with the title of the book is also available. It seems to the ordinary that he has already achieved what he has desired: publicity and profitability of his enterprise. However, what Pastor Terry Jones has failed to realize is that by his deeds he not only expressed his rejection and hatred towards the religion but has also alienated himself from Muslim population. In an interview with ABC news, President Mr. Barrack Obama has clearly expressed his distaste towards such an act. However, mere distaste towards this clear outrage is not enough to absorb the shockwaves which such an insane act will send through out the globe. In these times when social harmony is being restored.

There are some educational institutions in the country where some people have been given the power of running them. Regrettably, most of the members of the managing committees seem to be just showing their monetary power, instead of looking after the institutions properly. Recently, an ugly incident occurring in an institute disappointed me. One of the committee members behaved very rudely with a female staff presently serving an orphanage.

Reckless driving or dangerous driving is a major traffic rule violation and this can be seen often in Dhanmondi area where the youths are always in competition with each other putting the pedestrians' life at stake.

This week Saad al-Hariri, the Lebanese PM, retracted his former claim that Syria was behind the assassination of his father, Rafik al-Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon in 2005. The assassination in 2005 led to massive protests in Lebanon and the eventual withdrawal of Syrians troops after almost 30 years in Lebanon.

At least two million people ain northern India have been left homeless as the Ganges and other rivers, swollen by heavy monsoon rains, broke embankments and submerged villages, fields and religious sites.

China snubbed Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan yesterday, saying a territorial dispute ruled out any meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao in New York this week and adding to the ire dividing Asia's top two economies.

China, India and Indonesia are likely to face much higher losses from natural disasters in coming decades as their economies grow faster than their capacity for disaster prevention and relief, a new report has forecast.

North Korea's ruling party will hold its biggest meeting in decades on Sept. 28 to pick a new leadership, state media reported on Tuesday, and likely anoint an heir to the dynasty as Kim Jong-il's health deteriorates.

Arts & Entertainment

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts has planned a yearlong programme that includes a series of 10 group art exhibitions. The fourth exhibition of this series, titled “Rooted Creativity-4,” is now being held at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhanmondi in Dhaka.

The Linnet Fine Arts, a Satkhira-based cultural organisation, held an Eid reunion, discussion and cultural function at Satkhira Shilpakala Academy Auditorium at Shaheed Abdur Razzak Park in the town on September 18.

The Linnet Fine Arts, a Satkhira-based cultural organisation, held an Eid reunion, discussion and cultural function at Satkhira Shilpakala Academy Auditorium at Shaheed Abdur Razzak Park in the town on September 18.

Known the world over as “King Khan”, Bollywood superstar Shakrukh Khan will be in Bangladesh to perform at a show. Event management group Ontor Showbiz is organising the show, according to a press release.

The Himalayan Times TGIF Nepal Fashion Week is the biggest fashion event in the mountainous country. Organised by IEC School of Art & Fashion, the festival was held at Hotel Soaltee Crown Plaza, Kathmandu from September 13-16, according to a press release.

OP-ED

We could all do with a bit of austerity in this poor country. There is no good reason, at this point in our collective life, to pretend that everything is in good shape and all things are bright and beautiful in Bangladesh. It is a truth that some of our expatriate Bengalis must come to terms with.

Although Turkey is a democratic country it was saddled with a constitution drawn by its military in 1980. Finally, on September 12, on the 30th anniversary of the 1980 military coup, the Turkish people adopted a democratic constitution after a referendum.

Democracy has been defined across the globe as the best medium for running the state machinery. The scope of human freedom and action allowed in a democratic system speaks volumes for its suitability to the political environment of the nations of the world. The ethos of a democratic administration personifies the sentiment of the common masses, and this always makes space for them to protest against the wrongdoings of the government.